G-P overpowers Alice after allowing first goal

PORTLAND - The Gregory-Portland Wildcats cruised to a 5-1 win over the Alice Coyotes Thursday night at Ray Akins Wildcat Stadium to advance to the next round of the Class 4A soccer playoffs.

The Wildcats will face San Antonio Harlandale in the Area round of the playoffs on Tuesday in San Antonio at 6 p.m.

Joseph Chavez led the Wildcats with two goals and an assist on the night, but things did not start the way coach Craig Johnson had hoped.

“If you’re not awake, you will be now,” barked Johnson at his Wildcats after the Coyotes’ Jacob DelaCruz scored five minutes into the game to give Alice a quick 1-0 lead.

“In the first five minutes of the game and five before the half you don’t want to give up a goal to your opponent, it’s a crucial time, but the guys answered well,” Johnson said.

Answer the ’Cats did, with 31:44 on the clock Michael Johnson placed a left-footed shot into the back of the goal after an assist from Tommy Mackey to tie the game at 1. Two minutes later it was Bryson Becker who gave G-P its first lead with a goal assisted by Andy Mushel, making it 2-1 with 29:49 remaining in the first half.

The run continued for the Wildcats, less than a minute later Chavez passed to Mackey who pushed the ball past Alice keeper Javier Castillo to extend the ’Cats’ lead to 3-1 with 28:46 left.

G-P continued to force the issue, but did not score again until 9:08 remained in the half when Chavez scored to hand the Wildcats a 4-1 lead at the half.

Alice had a chance to cut the margin with just thirty seconds left in the half, but Alex Rodas’ open net shot missed wide right after G-P keeper Charles Richard was knocked off his feet.

Less than five minutes into the second half the Wildcats were on the board again. After Becker’s shot bounced off the left post, Chavez was there to pick up the loose ball and quickly kicked it past Castillo with 35:21 left to make the score 5-1.